Honorable Judge Stephen B. Ables

Kerrville, Texas

Judge Ables is a Kerrville resident who loves to take part in Tivy Football as the Public Address Announcer. Is an avid Golfer, in which he met and played with Tiger Woods. He also enjoys music, reading and teaching.

Judge Ables is married to Lynda Flenniken Ables who is a Director of Choral Music at the First United Methodist Church in Kerrville. He also has three wonderful children. David, a Harvard graduate who is currently a Partner in an engineering firm. Matthew, a Baylor University graduate who is currently a Hydrogeologist and President of Kisters Corp. North America. Mollie, a Baylor University graduate with a Masters at UT and a PhD at University of Indiana, she is a professor at Wabash University.

Education  + -

  • Ennis High School
    Texas - 1967
  • United States Military Academy
    1967-1968
  • Baylor University
    English Literature   1968-1971
  • Baylor Law School
    1973
  • Licensed to Practice Law
    1973

Experience  + -

  • 216th District Court of Texas
    Retired Judge ( Kerr, Kendall, Gillespie & Bandera )   Jan. 1, 1989
  • 6th Judicial Administrative Region of Texas
    Presiding Judge ( 24 Counties )
  • Appointed by Governor Bush
    1995
  • Re-appointed by Governor Bush
    2003, 2005, 2009, 2014
  • Regional Judges of Texas
    Chairman   2009 to Present
  • Texas Judiciary
    Elected Chairman   2002 to 2003
  • Texas College for New Judges
    Dean   2001 to 2012
  • Texas Center for the Judiciary
    Chairman   2002 to 2003
  • Texas Judicial Ethics Committee
    Chairman   2004 to 2007
  • Appointed to Texas Supreme Court by Governor Bush to sit for Justice Enoch who was recused from a specific case
    1996
  • Appointed to Texas Judicial Council by Governor Bush
    1995 to 1997
  • Appointed to Supreme Court Task Force on Foster Care by Chief Justice Phillips
    1998
  • Appointed to Attorney General's Child Support Advisory Work Group by Attorney General Cornyn
    2000
  • Appointed by Governor Bush as Presiding Judge of the Sixth Administration Judicial Region
    1995, 2000, 2005, 2009, 2014
  • Appointed to Court of Criminal Appeals Education Committee by Chief Justice Keller
    2001
  • Texas Association Court Administrators
    Former Advisory Director
  • Judiciary Curriculum Committee
    Former Chairman
  • University of Memphis Institute for Faculty Excellence in Judicial Education
    Faculty member and lecturer
  • Judicial Workplace Arbitrations
    Mediator and Arbitrator   Present
  • Former Assistant County Attorney and Assistant District Attorney
  • Wallace, Jackson, Ables & Machann
    Partner   1979 to 1989
  • Kerr County Bar Association
    President   1979 to 1980
  • Schreiner College
    Instructor of Criminal Law and Procedure   1976 to 1980
  • State Bar Grievance Committee
    Prosecutor   1976 to 1977
  • Kerr County Police Academy
    Constitutional Law Lecturer
  • Judicial Education Programs and State Bar Programs
    Lecturer and Panel Member
  • State bar of Texas
    Elected Fellow   2001

Memberships & Affiliations  + -

  • First United Methodist Church, Kerrville, TX
    Member
  • Senior Adult Sunday School
    Teacher   1983 to Present
  • Administrative Board
    Chairman   1986 to 1987
  • Board of Trustees
    Chairman   1990 to 1991
  • First United Methodist Church, Kerrville, TX
    Lay Leader   1990 to 2000
  • Bishop's Committee of the Episcopacy
    Appointed   2000
  • Emmaus Pilgrim walk 108
  • Emmaus
    Lay Leader   1999
  • Hill Country Crisis Shelter for Battered Women
    President and Founding Director   1987 to 1988
  • Hill Country Youth Ranch
    Advisory Director
  • Cailloux Family Charitable Foundation
    Director
  • Kerrville Tivy high School Mock Trial Team
    Attorney Coach
  • "Partners in Ministry"
    Former Director
  • Young Men's Business League
    Advisory Director
  • Youth Baseball, Basketball and Soccer
    Former Coach
  • Cowboy Camp Meeting Association
    Past President and Director
  • Kerrville Philosophers Club
    Founding Member
  • Hill Country Arts Foundation
    Past board of Directors
  • Hill Country Beginners Symphony Orchestra
    Member

Honors & Awards  + -

  • Selected Outstanding Criminal Judge in the State of Texas by the Judicial Section of the State Bar of Texas for the year
    2000 to 2001
  • Along with Wife, named Kerrville Citizens of the Year
    2002
  • Named Outstanding Young Alumnus of Baylor University
    1989
  • Along with Spouse, selected as Baylor University Outstanding Parents of the Year
    1999 to 2000
  • Masonic Lodge Community Builder Award
    1992
  • American Legion Community Service Award
    1993
  • Sons of the American Revolution Outstanding Citizen Award
    2001, 2005

Speaking / Authoring / Seminars  + -

  • Columnist for Kerrville Daily Times
  • Author of the Book "Teeing Up the Day"